DOCTOR WHO "ORPHANED EPISODES" RELEASE?
2 MAY 2004

According to Sci-Fi Online, the BBC has put back the planned release of the DOCTOR WHO "Beginnings" DVD boxed set (which would have included the first 13 episodes plus the original recording of the pilot episode) and replaced it with a collection of orphaned episodes and clips from the show's black and white era.

Reports claim that BBC America has slated two special releases for later in the year - THE MISSING ADVENTURES: THE WILLIAM HARTNELL YEARS and THE MISSING ADVENTURES: THE PATRICK TROUGHTON. These would be separate releases in the US, and a 3-disc set in the UK.

However, missing from these releases will be THE ICE WARRIORS (of which episodes 1, 4-6 out of 6 are extant), THE INVASION (episodes 2-3 and 5-8 extant) and THE REIGN OF TERROR (episodes 1-3 and 6 extant), as all three titles could justify a release in their own right despite being incomplete. It is also unclear whether the three surviving episodes from THE TENTH PLANET will make the set as these could also justify a separate release.

Hartnell: THE CRUSADE: 1 and 3, THE DALEKS' MASTER PLAN: 2, 5 and 10 and THE CELESTIAL TOYMAKER: 4.

Troughton: THE UNDERWATER MENACE: 3, THE MOONBASE: 2 and 4, THE FACELESS ONES: 1 and 3, THE EVIL OF THE DALEKS: 2, THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMEN: 2, THE ENEMY OF THE WORLD: 3, THE WEB OF FEAR: 1, THE WHEEL IN SPACE: 3 and 6 and THE SPACE PIRATES: 2.

The major attraction for fans would be the recently recovered second episode of THE DALEKS' MASTER PLAN, as well as other rediscovered material such as THE POWER OF THE DALEKS trailer and the FURY FROM THE DEEP film trims, and episodes that haven't been available on video for several years. Obvious extras could include material from the BSB DOCTOR WHO weekend, including Waris Hussein discussing the lost classic MARCO POLO (which would also suit the "Beginnings" set) and Nicholas Courtney on the two Yeti stories.

Whilst many fans would welcome the chance to watch the returned DAY OF ARMAGEDDON, it does seem strange that the BBC would consider release a 3-disc set of orphaned episodes ahead of stories that are complete. And with a new series starting in 2005, wouldn't it make sense to release the "Beginnings" set to give new viewers a chance to see how the series originally began? BACK TO THE TOP